Political press during the Second Republic in Spain: the instrumentalization of Ifni leaders in the newspaper Ahora as a driving force for colonisation

Abstract

Photography has played an important role in communication since its beginnings and the press would soon make use of it. With the occupation of Ifni during the Second Spanish Republic in April 1934, the newspaper Ahora sent its deputy editor to follow the news from the field, information that would be published as a chronicle. During his trip, the journalist had the opportunity to see the initial process of conquest of the territory, as well as to interview different men considered leaders of the predominant tribal confederation in Ifni, the Aït ba Amran. Based on the chronicle La última empresa colonial de España by Manuel Chaves Nogales, and associated graphic material by photographer Gerardo Contreras, the role they played in disseminating the need for Spanish colonial action in Ifni is analysed through the exposure and representation of their leaders. The results confirm that, although each leader was depicted differently, their words and actions convey submission and acceptance of Spanish colonisation. The regular appearance of photographs of local leaders played an important task in reinforcing these imperialist messages. Thus, the chronicle not only reported what happened in Ifni, but also promoted colonial interest along government lines.